History

Route 53 follows the former routing of the Kingston to Quincy section of Route 3 which was moved onto the Southeast Expressway and Pilgrim's Highway expressway when they were fully completed in 1963. The remaining former sections of Route 3 became extensions of Route 3A

Massachusetts Route 3A

Route 3A is a state highway in eastern Massachusetts, which parallels Route 3 and U.S. Route 3 from Cedarville in southern Plymouth to Tyngsborough at the New Hampshire state line....

.

For a period of time, from at least the early 1930s through 1965, a mile of what is now Route 53, between Derby Street and Main Street (Route 228), was also coextensive with Route 128. In 1965 that route was cut back to the Braintree Split

Braintree Split

The Braintree Split is the intersection of Interstate 93/U.S. Route 1 and Massachusetts Route 3 located along the city line separating Braintree and Quincy, Massachusetts. The Braintree Split was also the southern end of Route 128 until 1997, when Route 128 was truncated to the I-95/I-93...

, and again in 1997 it was officially cut back to the I-95

Interstate 95 in Massachusetts

Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine. The Massachusetts portion of the highway enters from the state of Rhode Island in Attleboro and travels in a northeasterly direction to the junction with Route 128 in...

/I-93

Interstate 93

Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91...

 junction in Canton

Canton, Massachusetts

Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :...

.

Queen Anne's Corner

The intersection of Route 53 with Route 228 on the Hingham

Hingham, Massachusetts

Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...

–Norwell

Norwell, Massachusetts

Norwell is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population is currently 10,506 at the 2010 Census.Norwell was first settled in 1634 as a part of the settlement of Satuit , which encompasses present day Scituate and Norwell. It was officially created, in 1849 and soon became...

 town line is known as Queen Anne's Corner or historically Queen Ann's Corner and the nearby section of Route 53 has also been known as Queen Anne's (or Ann's) Turnpike. The name comes from Anne Whiton, a local tavern owner who in the mid 1700's, along with her daughters, had an "unsavory reputation" and was called quean with the archaic meaning of the word as prostitute.

Route description

Route 53 begins in Kingston at Route 3A

Massachusetts Route 3A

Route 3A is a state highway in eastern Massachusetts, which parallels Route 3 and U.S. Route 3 from Cedarville in southern Plymouth to Tyngsborough at the New Hampshire state line....

, just a third of a mile west of where that route meets Route 3 at Exit 10. It heads north, almost immediately entering the town of Duxbury. It passes through the southwestern part of that town before meeting Route 14 just over the line into Pembroke

Pembroke, Massachusetts

Pembroke is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,927 at the 2000 census.The southwestern section of Pembroke is also known as Bryantville...

. The two routes pass concurrently for a over a mile and a half before splitting in the area of North Pembroke. Route 53 is alone for just over a mile and a quarter before becoming concurrent with Route 139

Massachusetts Route 139

Route 139 is nominally a west–east state highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 139 begins in Stoughton Square at the southern junction of the Route 27 and 138 concurrency. The highway heads northeast until the junction with Route 24, at which point the highway heads...

. The two routes pass over the North River

North River (Massachusetts Bay)

The North River is a river, approximately long, in eastern Massachusetts, the United States. It is primarily a tidal river, formed by the confluence of the Indian Head River and Herring Brook. The North River forms the boundary between the towns of Norwell and Pembroke, Massachusetts, and...

 into Hanover

Hanover, Massachusetts

Hanover is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,164 at the 2000 census.-History:The area of Hanover was first settled by English settlers in 1649 when William Barstow, a farmer, built a bridge along the North River at what is now Washington Street...

 together before splitting.

Route 53 heads northwards through the eastern part of Hanover until it passes the Hanover Mall

Hanover Mall

Hanover Mall is a one story, enclosed shopping mall with 80 shops and restaurants, including Macy's, Sears, J.C. Penney and Wal-Mart. The mall was built in 1971 and renovated in 1999. It serves local communities as a neighborhood mall of sorts, an alternative for shoppers looking to avoid the...

 and meets Route 3 once more, at Exit 13. From Route 3 it bends northwestward, going through the western portion of Norwell

Norwell, Massachusetts

Norwell is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population is currently 10,506 at the 2010 Census.Norwell was first settled in 1634 as a part of the settlement of Satuit , which encompasses present day Scituate and Norwell. It was officially created, in 1849 and soon became...

 before meeting Route 228

Massachusetts Route 228

Route 228 is a rather short south–north highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 228 runs from Route 3 in Rockland, goes through Hingham, and ends at the intersection of George Washington Boulevard in Hull....

 just over the town line into Hingham

Hingham, Massachusetts

Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...

. The route passes through the southwest corner of that town before entering Weymouth

Weymouth, Massachusetts

The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...

. In Weymouth, the route bisects the town from southeast to northwest, passing Whitman's Pond and the northern end of Route 18. Route 53 then enters Braintree

Braintree, Massachusetts

The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...

, crossing the Monatiquot River

Monatiquot River

The Monatiquot River is a river in Braintree, Massachusetts, formed by the confluence of the Farm River and Cochato River in the Braintree Municipal Golf Course, flowing in swampy meanders to the northeast, and emptying into the tidal Weymouth Fore River estuary. Its drainage area is .The river...

 before entering Quincy

Quincy, Massachusetts

Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...

, passing the site of the Fore River Shipyard

Fore River Shipyard

The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...

. After just a mile, Route 53 ends at Route 3A, with that route resuming the former route of Route 3.

Junction list

County	Location	Milepost	Roads Intersected	Notes
Plymouth Plymouth County, Massachusetts Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton...	Kingston Kingston, Massachusetts Kingston is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 12,629.-History:Before European settlers arrived in Kingston it was within the tribal home to the Wampanoag people...	0.00	Route 3A	Southern terminus of Route 53. To Route 3 Exit 10 via Route 3A north. To Routes 27, 106 Massachusetts Route 106 -Route description:Route 106 begins in Plainville at Route 1A. The route heads east, intersecting U.S. Route 1 and Route 152 in quick succession, with Turnpike Lake between the three routes. As Route 106 passes south of Lake Mirimichi it enters the town of Foxborough...  & 80 Massachusetts Route 80 Route 80 is a C-shaped state highway in southeastern Massachusetts. The highway is signed as west–east.-Route description:Route 80 starts at Carver Road in the West Plymouth section of Plymouth. Due to the removal of Route 44, this is an unusual instance that a numbered route does not have...  via Route 3A south.
	Pembroke Pembroke, Massachusetts Pembroke is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,927 at the 2000 census.The southwestern section of Pembroke is also known as Bryantville...	4.6	Route 14	Southern terminus of Route 14/53 concurrency.
		6.3	Route 14	Northern terminus of Route 14/53 concurrency. To Route 36 Massachusetts Route 36 -Route description:From its terminus at Route 106 in Halifax, Route 36 abuts the eastern shore of East Monponsett Pond. The highway then crosses the MBTA Commuter Rail at Halifax Station... .
		7.6	Route 139 Massachusetts Route 139 Route 139 is nominally a west–east state highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 139 begins in Stoughton Square at the southern junction of the Route 27 and 138 concurrency. The highway heads northeast until the junction with Route 24, at which point the highway heads...	Southern terminus of Route 53/139 concurrency.
	Hanover Hanover, Massachusetts Hanover is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,164 at the 2000 census.-History:The area of Hanover was first settled by English settlers in 1649 when William Barstow, a farmer, built a bridge along the North River at what is now Washington Street...	8.7	Route 139 Massachusetts Route 139 Route 139 is nominally a west–east state highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 139 begins in Stoughton Square at the southern junction of the Route 27 and 138 concurrency. The highway heads northeast until the junction with Route 24, at which point the highway heads...	Northern terminus of Route 53/139 concurrency.
		11.6	Route 3	Route 3 Exit 13.
		12.2	Route 123 Massachusetts Route 123 Route 123 is a west–east state highway in southeastern Massachusetts. It crosses northern Bristol and Plymouth Counties, crossing several highways along the way.-Route description:...
	Hingham Hingham, Massachusetts Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...	14.4	Route 228 Massachusetts Route 228 Route 228 is a rather short south–north highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 228 runs from Route 3 in Rockland, goes through Hingham, and ends at the intersection of George Washington Boulevard in Hull....	Queen Anne's Corner, just north of the Norwell Norwell, Massachusetts Norwell is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population is currently 10,506 at the 2010 Census.Norwell was first settled in 1634 as a part of the settlement of Satuit , which encompasses present day Scituate and Norwell. It was officially created, in 1849 and soon became...  town line.
Norfolk Norfolk County, Massachusetts -National protected areas:* Adams National Historical Park* Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area * Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site* John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site-Demographics:...	Weymouth Weymouth, Massachusetts The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...	18.8	Route 18	Northern terminus of Route 18.
	Quincy Quincy, Massachusetts Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...	22.14	Route 3A Massachusetts Route 3A Route 3A is a state highway in eastern Massachusetts, which parallels Route 3 and U.S. Route 3 from Cedarville in southern Plymouth to Tyngsborough at the New Hampshire state line....	Northern terminus of Route 53.